RNN Group
RNN Group is a UK further and higher education provider operating four colleges and specialist training centres across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, serving 11,000 learners annually via vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and degrees funded primarily through government grants and employer partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRotherham, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What RNN Group does
RNN Group is a private, for-profit further and higher education provider headquartered in Rotherham, United Kingdom, formed in 2016 through the merger of local colleges. The group operates four core campuses — Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, and University Centre Rotherham — alongside specialist training facilities including the National Fluid Power Centre, Logistics Training Centre, The Bridge Skills Hub, and the AM2 Electro Testing Centre and Gas Works. It serves approximately 11,000 learners annually (including 1,000 apprentices) across school leavers, adult learners, and employer-sponsored cohorts, with qualifications ranging from Entry Level to Level 6 degrees. The core technology stack is built around a digital education platform integrated with Google Workspace for Education (Google Reference College designation), supplemented by accessibility tooling (Recite Me, Aira) and video conferencing for remote learning. Commercial outlets — The Wharncliffe restaurant, DVC Sports (Fitness63) gym, and the Innovate hair and beauty salons — double as both revenue-generating businesses and student training environments. The business model combines recurrent government funding (Education and Skills Funding Agency, apprenticeship levy, European Social Fund) with employer-sponsored apprenticeship fees, tuition income, and transaction-based commercial services. RNN Group holds Ofsted Good, TEF Silver, QAA, Matrix, and Investors in Diversity Silver accreditations, and operates a structured Employer Academy model with named enterprise partners across construction, aesthetics, health and wellbeing, and local government.
RNN Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RNN Group
- Legal name
- RNN Group
- Website
- https://rnngroup.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- RNN Group is a UK further and higher education provider operating four colleges and specialist training centres across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, serving 11,000 learners annually via vocational courses, apprenticeships, T Levels, and degrees funded primarily through government grants and employer partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RNN Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Education and Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Apprenticeship Training (611513), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)
Keywords
Where RNN Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotherham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
RNN Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Education and Training Services: Further and higher education provision including vocational courses, T Levels, apprenticeships, and higher education degrees. Revenue generated through government funding (Education and Skills Funding Agency) and tuition fees.
- Apprenticeship Scheme: Apprenticeship programs for employers, funded through apprenticeship Levy and government contributions
- Commercial Services: Revenue-generating commercial outlets including The Wharncliffe restaurant, DVC Sports gym (Fitness63), hair and beauty salons (Innovate S65, Innovate S81), and studio spaces. These operate as both commercial enterprises and student training facilities.
- Adult Learning and Skills Training: Adult skills courses, community courses, and distance learning programs, partially funded through government initiatives
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Further Education Courses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
RNN Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RNN Group operates a network of colleges and training centres delivering further and higher education, vocational qualifications, T Levels, apprenticeships, adult skills courses, and higher education degrees across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. The group also operates commercial training outlets including a fine dining restaurant, fitness gym, and hair and beauty salons that double as student training facilities. Employer-facing services include Employer Academies, bespoke commercial training, and skills bootcamps.
Product overview
RNN Group is a career-focused further and higher education provider operating as a unified college group across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. The portfolio includes four main college campuses (Rotherham College, North Notts College, Dearne Valley College, and University Centre Rotherham), specialized training centres (The Bridge Skills Hub, National Fluid Power Centre, Logistics Training Centre, AM2 Electro Testing Centre), and commercial training restaurants and salons. Education services span apprenticeships, T Levels, adult skills courses, and higher education degrees. Employer-facing services include Employer Academies, commercial training courses, skills bootcamps, and work placement support. Commercial operations include The Wharncliffe fine dining restaurant, DVC Sports fitness facility, and Innovate hair and beauty salons across multiple campuses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT): Institute of Technology focused on STEM skills and technical education
- World Skills Centre of Excellence
- Google Reference College
Products and services
- Rotherham College
Companies that use RNN Group
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
RNN Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
RNN Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- A-TrainingcoreNew Employer Academy launched with A-Training to support aesthetics careers, providing training pathways for the aesthetics industry
- Bassetlaw District CouncilcoreEmployer Academy launch with BDC to support local workforce development and skills training
- Henry Boot ConstructioncoreEmployer Academies partnership for construction industry training and workforce development
- Esh GroupcoreConstruction programme partnership through Employer Academies initiative
- Lync ActiveminorHealth and Wellbeing Programme partnership providing health and wellbeing resources for students and staff
- GooglecoreGoogle Reference College partnership providing digital education tools, Google Workspace for Education, and digital skills training for students and staff
- National Fluid Power CentrecoreSpecialist partner organisation providing fluid power industry training and expertise
- South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT)corePartnership for higher technical education and technical skills training in South Yorkshire
- Education and Skills Funding AgencycoreGovernment body providing funding for further education and skills training
- European Social FundcoreEU funding programme supporting skills and employment training initiatives
- WorldSkills UKcoreWorldSkills Centre of Excellence partnership for vocational skills competitions and excellence
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RNN Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NCG (Newcastle College Group): Major UK further education group operating Newcastle College and several other colleges across the North East. Directly comparable to RNN Group in structure as a multi-college FE group with apprenticeship and employer-facing services.
- Luminate Education Group: Multi-college FE/HE group based in Yorkshire operating Leeds City College, Keighley College, and Harrogate College. Highly comparable to RNN as a regional UK further education college group with a similar campus-led, vocational and academic mix.
- Capital City College Group: London-based FE group formed from the merger of City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College, and CONEL. Directly comparable to RNN as a merged multi-college further education group with both vocational and higher education offerings.
- BPP University: Private UK higher education and professional training provider offering degrees and apprenticeships. Comparable to RNN as a UK vocational/apprenticeship-focused provider with employer relationships, though operating without the same regional college footprint.
- Chichester College Group: South-East England FE group encompassing Chichester, Brinsbury, Crawley, and Worthing Colleges. Comparable to RNN Group as a regional further education group with multiple college campuses and apprenticeship provision.
- LTE Group: UK further education and training group including The Manchester College, Novus, and Total People apprenticeships. Comparable to RNN as a multi-campus FE group with a strong apprenticeship and employer engagement focus.
- Education Training Collective: Teesside-based FE group operating Stockton Riverside College and Redcar & Cleveland College. Similar to RNN Group in providing regional further education, apprenticeships, and employer training services in a defined geographic catchment.
- Learning Curve Group: UK-based vocational training and apprenticeship provider serving employers and learners nationwide. Comparable to RNN in the apprenticeship, adult skills, and employer-funded training segments, though operating without a multi-campus college estate.
- Activate Learning: Multi-college FE/HE group spanning Reading College, Bracknell & Wokingham College, and Oxford-based further education. Comparable to RNN Group in operating a regional multi-campus vocational and academic training portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Pearson: Global education and qualifications company providing vocational qualifications, assessment, and training content. Comparable to RNN as a major participant in UK vocational education and qualifications, though operating at much broader scale and as a qualifications body rather than a college operator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RNN Group social profiles
Digital presenceRNN Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
RNN Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RNN Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
RNN Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
RNN Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RNN Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RNN Group
What does RNN Group do?
RNN Group operates a network of colleges and training centres delivering further and higher education, vocational qualifications, T Levels, apprenticeships, adult skills courses, and higher education degrees across South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire. The group also operates commercial training outlets including a fine dining restaurant, fitness gym, and hair and beauty salons that double as student training facilities. Employer-facing services include Employer Academies, bespoke commercial training, and skills bootcamps.
Is RNN Group a public or private company?
RNN Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was RNN Group founded?
RNN Group was founded in 2016. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is RNN Group based?
RNN Group is headquartered in Rotherham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does RNN Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Education and Training Services are the primary driver. The others are apprenticeship Scheme, commercial Services and adult Learning and Skills Training.
Who are RNN Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NCG (Newcastle College Group), Luminate Education Group, Capital City College Group, BPP University, Chichester College Group, LTE Group, Education Training Collective, Learning Curve Group and Activate Learning. Pearson is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does RNN Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for RNN Group.
What industry is RNN Group in?
RNN Group's product category is Vocational Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEANAN, Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.